Home Group Oversight

Visitations

Home Group Consultants visit each Home Group once or twice a year. These visits give the consultant the opportunity to observe and assess the quality of the Home Group meeting. The Consultant should generally play a minimum role in the meeting to ensure they are evaluating a typical meeting.

Preparing for the Visit

• Contact a leader from the group and set a date for the visit.

• Ensure that you visit on a "typical" night.

• Ask who is teaching and what they are teaching. Is there a new teacher that night? Consider reviewing the passage. Optionally, ask if the teacher will be using a discussion or didactic teaching format.

• Ask what time people start showing up at the meeting. Get directions as needed.

• Review the Home Group roster to familiarize yourself with the members as necessary.

Observing & Assessing the Atmosphere

• Is the house well-lit and easy to find with the directions provided?

• Is there a hospitable "feel" to the house? What types of snacks and beverages are provided?

• Is the lighting in the meeting room adequate? Adequate seating? Does the room feel crowded or vast? Is it cozy, warm or is it institutional, cold? Can everyone see the teacher?

• What kind of avoidable interruptions are there? (I.e. phone, animals, plumbing, latecomers). Is the temperature an issue?

• What is the seating capacity of the meeting space (adults sitting in chairs)?

• Friendliness – are new folks made welcome?

Observing & Assessing the Meeting

• Record the length of each section of the meeting (introduction, teaching, discussion, prayer, and announcements). Did any section feel too long or too short?

• Does the leader (or anyone) set the tone (in opening prayer or otherwise) of anticipation to get into the word of God?

• Teaching/Discussion:

• How much bible text is gotten into? Is it clearly explained? Do discussion questions refer people back into the text to hunt and dig for answers?

• Is there a good mix of theological insight & practical application?

• Does the teacher/discussion leader exhibit energy, excitement about the word of God? Do they seem prepared in the text? Have they formulated good, insightful discussion questions? Are they either overbearing or a quiet pushover? Do they give the members opportunity to share and ask their questions? Are they able to guide the discussion without seeming contrived?

• How many people speak up and share during the discussion? Is there a good mix of men & women sharing? Does anyone seem to "dominate" the discussion? Who doesn't participate?

• How is the time prayer? Is it rich, enthusiastic, sincere, "real"? What is being prayed about? Is prayer balanced (praise, petition, intercession, confession)? Who prays? Does anyone dominate prayer? Is the time of prayer too long or too short?

• Is it a Christ-centered meeting?

• Is the group lively and jovial? Is there a sense of camaraderie?

• Is this a Home Group you’d like to attend? Why or why not? How can you effectively communicate the reasons to the leadership?

Fellowship Time (before & after the meeting):

• Is the atmosphere conducive to hanging out and getting to know each other?

• Are the homeowners hospitable? Do they encourage fellowship time before & after the meeting? Do people feel like they can stay late?

• Are there spiritual conversations happening?

• What time do people start leaving?

Following-Up the Visit

• Arrange a time shortly after your Visit to discuss your observations & assessments with at least one of the leaders.

• Ask them if the night you visited felt like a typical meeting. Ask them to assess the strengths & weaknesses of the meeting.

• Identify & communicate areas of encouragement – be specific.

• Identify & communicate areas of improvement – be specific.

top of page